Analyzing SUNY Libraries: Uncovering Named Spaces and Their Impact

Whats in a Name? What named spaces tell us about SUNY libraries? Dr. Anna Ching-Yu Wong Director of Library Services Suny Canton Southworth Library wonga@canton.edu June 13, 2024 SUNYLA Annual Conference

Introduction Introduction It is very common for library buildings are named after someone. Someone has made a significant contribution or impacts for the community. The person can be a thinker, a former librarian, a wealthy donor [family], or an influential professor or college president.

Library Name Change Library Name Change Libraries transform to Learning Commons models; the original names are disappearing. Movements of removing the names of controversial figures from campus.

Purpose of This Study Purpose of This Study Exploring how to make the library spaces more reflective of our libraries aspirational values. Encouraging to think about name change to reflect campus culture. Inspiring to think about race, gender, and class on our campuses in a new way.

Methodology Methodology Steps: Access directly to library websites Locate the namesakes of the libraries If no information about the person, do further research and call the libraries Limitations: Libraries do not have any documentations No naming pattern

Findings Findings 40 Namesakes found University affiliated figures University libraries affiliated figures Commemorated individual, individual s public versus private persona All are White and only one African American

Library Namesakes At a Glance Library Namesakes At a Glance 8 female (20%) and 32 male (80%) 18 college affiliated (45%) 10 college presidents (25%) 3 faculty/dean (7.5%) 2 Board of Trustees (5%) 3 librarians (7.5%) 5 Politicians (12.5%) 2 Others (5%)

Naming Patterns Naming Patterns Alumni Donors Professors College Presidents Librarians

Discussion and Future Explorations Discussion and Future Explorations It is an opportunity to think about the good and the not so good parts of American history. Colleges face calls to banish the names of controversial figures from campus. Removal controversial names from campus buildings: Guidelines and policies? - Rename libraries and university buildings. - A name-evaluation process What does it mean for the universities to value equity and inclusion if individual after whom it building are named did not?

References References Crosetto, A., & Atwood, T. (2012). Naming academic libraries: Is institutional identity obscuring the generous benefactors and illustrious educators of old? Name, 60(2), 90-102. Inklebarger, T. (2019). What s in a Building Name? University librarians and archivists contribute to reviews of contentious namesakes. American Libraries. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2019/03/01/whats-in-a-building-name/ Tewell, E., Tobar, C., Long, H, Castrillo, J., & Ettarh, F. (2021). What s in a name: What named spaces tell us about academic libraries. ACRL 20th National Conference, "Ascending into an Open Future . http://hdl.handle.net/11213/17600

Questions? Questions?

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